Prepare pets for the ‘dog days’ of summer Published July 6, 2006 By Capt. Karyn Hava 319th Aeromedical Dental Squadron Grand Forks AFB, ND -- It’s that time of the year: your dog is swimming, playing catch, chasing prairie dogs and running through the woods, but with that there are a few concerns that the season brings. Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are common problems among canines. You have to remember that dogs wear a winter coat year round. Because of this, it is wise to keep them in the shade during the hottest hours of the day, especially those with darker coats. They also need plenty of fresh, cool water to drink. When exercising your dog, make sure their collar is loose enough to allow them to pant (it is the most efficient cooling mechanism dogs have since they don’t really sweat). If your dog starts to lose energy, act odd, pant uncontrollably (can’t even drink water) or is suddenly unable to rise, get them in the shade immediately, wet them down and contact your veterinarian. Swimming is a great summer activity for our dogs, but there are some risks. Water getting into their ears is hard to get out because a dog’s ear canal goes straight down and then makes a hard turn to become horizontal to the ground. Water pools there and yeast and bacteria love it. However, there are a few things you can do to improve air circulation and get the water out. First, clip the hair around the entrance to your dogs’ ears to improve air circulation. Also, a half and half mixture of hydrogen peroxide and alcohol can dry ears as well. Remember, this is only to be used after swimming, bathing or playing in the hose or a sprinkler (too much of this combination can irritate the ear and cause infection). The bottom line is that with a few precautions, summer can be just as much fun for your pet as it is for you. For more information, please contact the veterinarian office at 747-3377.